Lamont responds on jobs issue

Jim Milnes

Commenting on Christine Grahame’s recent claim that the UK Government’s economic policies were “failing by every conceivable measure”, John Lamont MSP said: “What Ms Grahame has failed to mention is that there are 3,500 more jobs in the Scottish Borders than there were when the Conservative Government first came to power.

“Welfare reform has meant for the first time work pays and a record number of people in the Borders now have the security of a pay packet. Meanwhile, those on low pay have had an £825 income tax cut and the minimum wage is set to rise to £9 an hour.

“The SNP by contrast, want to drag us out of the fastest growing major economy in the world and hit the poorest with a £9.7bn black hole.”

John added: “The Borders economy is not based on taxing people to pay out ever more in welfare. It relies on the innovation, the industry and the hard work of its people.”

“Christine Grahame should have more ambition for the Borders economy than unsustainable public spending. That starts with skills training, providing a decent education to our children and creating the infrastructure for us to succeed – all areas devolved to her colleagues in the Scottish Government, and areas where they have a string of failings.”